Posts Tagged ‘field jacket’
Alpha Industries USA
Alpha Industries has been the largest supplier of flight jackets for the Air Force, Navy and the Army of the United States of America for over 40 years.
Around 1998 the U.S. government decided to withdraw the contract to many of the companies producing military clothing and flight jackets selling the surplus on the civilian market, including Alpha Industries as well.
Since then, Alpha Industries has become a fashion company producing garments on the “style” and not only military, but without using the military specifications that required the U.S. government anymore. As if this were not enough, Alpha has transferred all its production to China and other Asian countries.
Some years ago, we started a deep research of “old” Alpha Industries items Made in U.S.A. receiving the support of the former Italian Alpha Industries official distributor. He could help us, as it has been distributing these items for over 25 years, until 1997.
Since that moment, the Knoxville Tennessee Alpha Industries products with military-governmental technical specifications have become very rare and hard to find. With time and with much effort we managed to put together a collection of all respect as you can see here:
http://www.modamilitare.com/usa/alpha-industries.html
It is a huge collection of flight jackets produced in Knoxville with government specifications, and other military items manufactured in the USA and also in Italy, because at that time Alpha Industries also produced some of its products in Italy, especially some models for the civilian market, which were produced upon approval Alpha Industries and maintaining the technical military specifications.
Unfortunately, since several months we aren’t anymore able to find almost anything in order to replenish our stock of the most popular flight jackets from Alpha Industries Made in USA, so now some model begins to run low.
I think, and I’m pretty sure that we are the only ones in the world to have a vast assortment of “old” models Alpha Industries Made in USA products for the U.S. military, and I also believe that we will not keep a good stock for a long time, because of the continuous and growing demand we have.
[Translate]Parka, Anorak, Field jacket Made in USA
From: “Wikipedia”
An anorak or parka is a type of heavy jacket with a hood, often lined with fur or fake fur, so as to protect the face from a combination of freezing temperatures and wind. This kind of garment, originally made from caribou or seal was invented by the Caribou Inuit, Inuit (Eskimo) of the Arctic region, who needed clothing that would protect them from wind chill and wetness while hunting and kayaking. Certain types of Inuit anoraks have to be regularly coated with fish oil to keep their water resistance.
The words anorak and parka are now often used interchangeably, but when first introduced, they described somewhat different garments, and the distinction is still maintained by some. Strictly speaking, an anorak is a waterproof jacket with a hood and drawstrings at the waist and cuffs, and a parka is a knee-length cold-weather jacket or coat; typically stuffed with down or very warm synthetic fiber, and with a fur-lined hood. Originally an anorak specifically implied a pull-over jacket without a zipper, button or frogged opening, but this distinction is now largely lost, and many garments with a full-length front opening are now described as anoraks. The anorak and parka have been developed from their traditional forms into a number of different designs using modern materials, notably the Fishtail and Snorkel parkas and the Cagoule, a form of lightweight anorak.
Amauti Two young Inuit mothers wearing amautit (angajuqtaujaq)
The amauti (also amaut or amautik, plural amautiit) is the traditional eastern Arctic Inuit parka designed to carry a child in the same garment as the parent so that the child is warm and safe from frostbite, wind and cold. The amauti can be made from a variety of materials including sealskin, caribou skin or duffle (a thick woollen cloth) with a windproof outer shell. Children continue to be commonly carried in this way in the eastern Arctic communities of Nunavut and Nunavik, but the garment is sometimes seen in the Northwest Territories, Greenland, Labrador and Alaska. Traditionally the mother or female care-giver wears an amauti, but the garment may also be worn by fathers or male care-givers. A male who wears an amauti is said, in the south Baffin tradition, to be probably more successful when next hunting for certain species of animals.
The word ‘parka’ is derived from the Nenets language. In the Aleutian Islands the word simply means “animal skin”. It first entered the English written record in a 1625 work by Samual Purchas. The word ‘anorak’ comes from the Kalaallisut word anoraq. It did not appear in English until 1924; an early definition is “gay beaded item worn by Greenland women or brides in the 1930s”. In the early 1950s it was made from Nylon, but changed to poplin by 1959, when it featured in Vogue magazine as a fashion item. In 1984, the Observer newspaper used the term to refer to the type of people who wore it, and “an anorak” became a derogatory term for trainspotters or nerds.
N-3B (“Snorkel”) Parka
US Air Force, Snorkel Parka
The original Snorkel Parka (USAF N-3B parka, which is 3/4 length and has a full, attached hood; the similar N-2B parka is waist-length and has an attached split hood) was developed in the USA during the early 1950s for military use, mainly for flight crews stationed in extremely cold areas, designed as it was for temperatures down to -60 deg. F. Originally made with a sage green DuPont flight silk nylon outer and lining it was padded with a wool blanket type material until the mid 1970s when the padding was changed to polyester wadding making the jacket both lighter and warmer. The outer shell material also was changed to a sage green cotton-nylon blend, with respective percentages 80–20, 65-35, and 50-50 being used at various times. It gained the common name of “Snorkel Parka” because the hood can be zipped right up leaving only a small tunnel (or snorkel) for the wearer to look out of. This is particularly effective in very cold, windy weather although it has the added liabilities of seriously limiting the field of vision and hearing. Earlier (Vietnam-era) hoods had genuine fur ruffs on the hoods; later versions used synthetic furs. Original manufacturers of this parka for the government included Skyline, Southern Athletic, Lancer, Greenbrier, Workroom For Designers, Alpha, and Avirex. Older nylon-shell parkas have a tendency to exhibit a change in color from the original sage green to a shade of magenta due to long-term cumulative exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun. To some in the military, this is personally desirable, as it lends to its wearer an aura of seasoned experience (referred to as salty by those in the US Navy and US Marine Corps). However, considered in a tactical environment, this is a liability, as it decreases one’s ability to be camouflaged on the ground.
The basic N-3B parka design was copied and sold to the civilian market by many manufacturers with varying degrees of quality and faithfulness to the original government specifications. Surplus military parkas are often available for relatively low prices online and in surplus stores; they compare quite favorably with civilian extreme-cold parkas of all types due to their robust construction, designed for combat conditions, and warmth, at (usually) significantly lower prices. However, one would have to be satisfied with the single color choice of sage green.
In the UK, the snorkel parka attained its popularity high point in the late 1970s to mid 1980s when its cheap and hard wearing properties made it the jacket of choice for school kids. It became so popular that at many schools almost every boy had one. Whilst the original N3B parka lining was un-quilted and the same colour as the outer shell, the school type parkas usually has quilted orange lining.
Brands such as Lord Anthony, Campri, Keynote and Brutus made their names selling snorkel parkas.
In the late 1980s the snorkel parka became unpopular and was associated with geeks and nerds, helping to create the UK term ‘anorak’ for such people. As such it became highly unfashionable and for a time wearers became the subject of ridicule.
In Europe the snorkel parka started to regain popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, being worn by the likes of Liam Gallagher, Kenny McCormick (South Park), and David Beckham. Around 2004, the traditional association with “Anoraks” had faded and the Snorkel Parka became a main-stream fashion jacket once more becoming particularly popular in the indie scene and with now middle-aged people recapturing memories of their school snorkel parkas. It is also once again popular as a school jacket, though at nothing like the same level of popularity as it achieved in the 1970s and 1980s.
Most modern parkas more closely resemble the original 1950s design and have lost the orange quilted lining of the 70′s school parkas, however the old school style are now considered highly desirable selling for high prices in vintage clothing shops.
Snorkel jackets remain very popular within Hip Hop culture being worn by both men and women and also have an association with Indie pop.
Fishtail Parka
M-51 fishtail parka. This was a favorite amongst the mods.
The Fishtail Parka was first used by the United States Army in 1951 to help protect soldiers from the elements in the Korean War.
There are two main styles of fishtail parkas; the M-51 fishtail parka; and the M-65. The M stands for military, and the number is the year it was standardized. The name fishtail comes from the fact that the coat is longer at the back than it is at the front. This was so the coat could be tied around the upper legs, much like a Knochensack for added wind proofing as they are not, as some think, waterproof. The hood of the M-51 Fishtail Parka is integral to the jacket and folds down inside the jacket collar when not in use. The M-65 Fishtail parka has a detachable hood. Both types feature a removable liner. Designed primarily for combat arms forces such as infantry, they are to be worn over other layers of clothing; alone, the fishtail parka is insufficient to protect against “dry cold” (as used in the US military; see FM 31-70, Cold Weather Field Manual) conditions. On the other hand, the N-3B parka (above) has more integral insulation and can be worn alone in colder temperatures than the fishtail parka. Because it has less insulation but is designed to fit loosely, it allows infantry more latitude to add or subtract layers underneath to adapt to changing weather or situational conditions than that allowed by the N-3B parka, which was designed for aircrews who typically worked under more static weather and geographic conditions. With proper additional insulating garments in the US military inventory, one can remain warm with the fishtail parka in -60 deg. F. temperatures. The fishtail parka has been replaced in the US military by the Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS).
In the 1960s UK, the fishtail parka became a symbol of the mod subculture. Due to their practicality, cheapness and availability from army surplus shops, the parka was seen as the ideal garment for fending off the elements when on the mod’s vehicle of choice, the scooter. Its place in popular culture was assured by newspaper pictures of parka-clad mods during the Bank Holiday riots of the 1960s.
Cagoule (raincoat)
A cagoul, cagoule or kagoule is the British English term for a lightweight, weatherproof anorak or parka, usually without the lining and sometimes coming to knee-length.
A cagoule which can be rolled up into a very compact package and carried in a bag or pocket was invented by Noel Bibby of Peter Storm Ltd. in the early 1960s. It has an integral hood, elasticated or drawstring cuffs, and a few poppers or a short zip at the neck. Like the original Aleut anorak it does not open fully at the front and must be pulled on over the head. In some versions, when rolled up, the hood doubles as a bag into which the rest of the coat is pushed. It became very popular in the United Kingdom during the 1970s.
Federico Scatizzi
[Translate]Alpha Industries only Made in USA
We sell models that Alpha Industries no longer manufactures in the USA from 10 years.
Unfortunately today, Alpha Industries produces no more jackets with military specifications, and no longer produces in the USA, now produce clothing for the fashion market civil.
You can to buy the original Alpha Industries Made in USA with military technical specifications, only here.
www.modamilitare.com
www.alphaindustriesoriginal.com
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Wep Jacket Alpha Industries
This jacket replicates the 1960s issue USN/USMC flight jacket by Alpha Industries. The WEP jacket was originally designed as a survival suit liner but was also worn as a separate garment and is very light in weight.
The WEP features a mil-spec nylon outer shell, quilted nylon lining with polyester fiberfill for warmth, two snap-close bellows chest pockets, pen slot, snap close utility pocket on left sleeve, bi-swing back for freedom of movement, knit collar and cuffs, elasticized waistband, full front zipper over storm flap, and velcro patch for ID.
Available in colors grey, blue, green, black.
Made in Vietnam.
[Translate]Military clothing Alpha Industries
Alpha Industries produces pants that were distributed on European market directly through the former distributor in Italy Italian who, license and approval of Alpha Industries, followed the production of trousers, shorts, shirts, t-shirts and Knitting for the U.S. military on behalf of Alpha Industries itself.
Today these models are no longer, no longer produced for the civilian market, some have been changed by new manufacturers of military apparel for the U.S. military, on request of the U.S. government under the new requirements military.
Many models, for example, have been “renewed” during the Gulf War.
In our store we have some still available old models of U.S. military apparel, produced in Italy on licensing and approval of Alpha Industries Knoxville, Tennessee.
The best known of which is the BDU pants, both long and Bermuda.
The BDU pants are the reproduction of those same image … Alpha Industries provides that the bodies responsible for ensuring enforce the law and the special teams army!
Made from 100% cotton ripstop and features two pockets Cutting front, two pockets in the rear closure with buttons, two side bellows pockets with button closure snap adjustable waist tabs, reinforced knees.
You can see here the long BDU
and here the BDU shorts
Clicking on these links that are below you can access various models:
We also have some models that had cotton jackets (Some are still current) supplied the U.S. military
Federico Scatizzi www.modamilitare.com
[Translate]Wep Jacket and Peacot jacket Alpha Industries Made in USA
The Wep Jacket flight jacket edition replaces the USN / USMC 60s. WEP Jacket was originally designed as protection of the flight suit also was brought as a separate garment and is very light.
WEP is a padded nylon jacket with polyester fiberfill to resist heat, two button snap pockets for folding, snap buttons on pocket on left sleeve, bellows behind for freedom of movement, neck and cuffs Wool tissues, elasticcizzato strap, zipper front with wind protection.
The coat is a classic Peacot U.S. Navy Sailors, adopted by the U.S. Navy since before the First World War and in use to this day!
This coat has all the great features of the military version of the United States, including: a gap behind, padded nylon and two large front pockets.
Made with the same specifications as directed by the Department of Defense, the coat Pea Cot is known for generating heat to the wearer and exceptional style. A classic, it is a tradition for generations of sailors.
Federico Scatizzi www.modamilitare.com
[Translate]Some variants of MA-1 Bomber Alpha Industries Made in USA
The MA-1 MA-1 Child is the classic version of a child, the same as an adult in every detail. This jacket may be small but has all the characteristics of the USAF MA-1 Bomber, including the interior orange reversible, four pockets with flap closure with snap buttons (two inside and two outside ), net pocket on left sleeve, and knit collar and cuffs! It ‘available in the color Blue in sizes 4 to 10 years.
The MA-1 Flight Series differs from Alpha Industries Vintage V.1 in the logo, the great “A” with three bars, leather, sewn on the back, the inner fleece sweatshirt and no coat of arms the USAF on the shoulder. It ‘available in turquoise color in all sizes.
The MA-1 Flock has the Alpha Industries coat printing process printed on the back, the rest of the details are identical MA-1 Classic.
Playing in every detail of the original jacket issued to the U.S. Air Force. The jacket features tonal lining before the compulsory military emergency orange lining. The jacket is also interlined with 100% wool for added warmth.
* Water repellent nylon flight satin 100% * “Wool knit collar, cuffs and waistband” * Tabs Button used by pilots to connect the oxygen masks and ear wires * 4 Welt slash pockets with button fastening * Signature Alpha Utilities / Pocket pencil
The MA-1 Wool is available in two versions, but only in one size, the first version had the USAF emblem on the left shoulder and the inside of the same color as the exterior, and has the tab for the oxygen mask, while the second version has the emblem on the shoulder, the interior has orange and is reversible and has the tab for the form of oxygen.
Both versions have the wool padding to seven layers, which protects from wind and colder climates. And ‘the misunderstood of Alpha Industries, at least civil public.
It ‘rare to find, almost impossible to find even the sites of the best retailers in the U.S. Alpha Industries. It ‘s a jacket lovers and collectors, unique.
Recently, Alpha Industries has played in Asian countries, but this is the true and only Made in USA. And ‘only available in two colors and two sizes.
The PV-2 or better known as MA-1 Vest is a classic MA-1 Bomber with reversible orange inside, but without sleeves. He has the pocket for the pen from the left chest.
Baseball Navy MA-1 and CPO Navy Cruise
The last three variants of the M-1 that we have available in our stores are two versions of the model and a baseball version of the model Cruise Navy CPO.
The latter model Cruise Navy CPO, is part of the series MA-1 only by the neck, cuffs and springs to life in jersey, and the fit, because it differs from M-1 in any other characteristic.
It has raglan sleeves of genuine leather, the torso is wool. Alpha has a small crest embroidered on the left side and chest pockets with no buttons nor other types of closures.
And ‘only available in gray color and size L, and only 4 strands. Another rarity of Alpha Industries Made in USA. The model MA-1 Baseball has some of the features of the Navy Cruise PCO, as the sleeves of genuine leather, the open pockets, no buttons, nor other types of closures, but the sleeves around and a large embroidery of enormous value and design that reflects the style of the jackets of American college baseball teams on the back. It comes in two colors, blue and gray but one size. This is also a jacket found.
The other version of the model Baseball is identical in detail and fit except for one important detail, no embroidery on the back. It ‘available in gray with yellow sleeves and only in size M.
Regards
Federico Scatizzi www.modamilitare.com
[Translate]GI Filma Festival Trailer
www.modamilitare.com
[Translate]A 15% discount for site opening
Hi, My name is Federico Scatizzi, I live in Prato and I created the site www.modamilitare.com in order to sell not only the mythical flight jackets Alpha Industries Made in USA but also other lifestyle brands in the military, like Corinth MFG Made in USA, Union Industries, Desert Storm, NFL – NBA, German military clothing, items for Italian Air Force, jackets, patches and more.
How did I get here? I remember the beginning of my career, and I am thinking back over the road that led me to sell military items around the world. As a matter of fact, on tmy web site I wrote something about it. At the beginning of the story (once upon a time…), I was lucky enough to find a friend, that owned a store full of original military items, which are practically impossible to find elsewhere (in my opinion, some are just unique or very rare). I discovered probably the largest stock of products Alpha Industries “Made in USA” in the world! And from there, the path of Alpha Industries started in Italy and Europe.
You can imagine my joy when I saw that all items in the warehouse were (and still are) absolutely brand new and that they were strictly produced in the United States. These items are reserved for true connoisseurs and true collectors. So I thought that to sell them to friends … then I had a new idea, that is selling using an online store. Even if my friend’s store is large and well stocked, some pieces, colors and sizes are now being phased out.
Therefore, in the case of depletion of some articles, I will notify you via e-mail. And then periodically I will arrange special offers. Indeed, at the opening of the site www.modamilitare.com I thought I’d do something really special, so I reserved for you a discount coupon that brings you a discount of 15%, but only until 31 March. So I suggest you take advantage of it immediately. Here is the coupon, as follows: UTKosP0V
I also thought of doing something for the real unique pieces that I have in stock. Maybe an auction, a contest, I will find a way. These unique pieces are jackets also sold online at 500$, 1000$ even 2000$, because they are the rarest, probably you will find them only here. But that’s another story … I’ll talk later about that. I really want customers like you, and I want to inform you about every event I will arrange for you. I recommend you to receive our newsletter, informing about news and updates on these great products. So if you wish to, you should subscribe to our newsletter, You should look at the bottom of our home page, searching for a box titled “Newsletter”. It ‘just give up your e-mail and press the button “Subscribe”. If you then change your mind, you can unsubscribe whenever you want. However, for now I would like to invite you to exploit this great opportunity and take the advantage of the discount that I have reserved for you. Use this coupon at once: UTKosP0V.
My best wishes.
Federico Scatizzi
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